Signal system.



4 TTORA/EYS PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

W. B. BRUCE. SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1905.

WITNESSES mini I UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFTOE.

IVILLIAM B. BRUCE, OF GALLATIN, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HIMSELF AND ONE-HALF TO MARTIN A. EWING AND JOSEPH H. EIVING, OF GALLATIN, TENNESSEE.

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

N 0. 800,547. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. .26, 1905.

Application filed January 16,1905. Serial No. 241,261.

T i Z wh i y OOHCEWM connected by means of a link 17 with a lever Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. BRUCE, a 18. This lever is pivoted upon the frame at citizen of the United States, and a resident of the point 19 and is provided with a short arm Gallatin, in the county of Sumner and State 20, which when the signal is concealed is 5 of Tennessee, have invented a new and Imadapted to assume the position shown in proved Signal System, of which the followdotted lines in Fig. 2. In this position a a ing is a full, clear, and exact description. stop 21 is preferably inserted in a pair of per- 60 Many serious collisions have occurred on forations 22 in the box. This stop is preferrailroads because no means was provided for ably made of a fragile materialas, for exsignaling trains between telegraph-stations. ample, glass, clay, paper, or the likeand is Such signals have not been provided because also preferably made in the form of a recepno practical one that was absolutely sure to tacle for receiving an explosive 23 and is pro- 65 operate when set has been placed upon the vided with a cap 24. To this receptacle are market. connected terminals 25 for exploding the ex- I 5 The main object of my invention is to plosive by an electric circuit 26.

provide such a signal systemone that will It will be readily understood that upon the be absolutely certain to operate and one closing of the circuit from a station or from 70 which will be simple and practical in every any other point the explosive will be exrespect and inexpensive to manufacture and ploded, the fragile stop destroyed, and the maintain. short end 20 of the lever (which is illustrated Reference is to be had to the accompanyin the form of a weight) will drop, carryihg ing drawings, forming a part of this specifiupwardly the other end and the link 17 and 7 cation, in which similar characters of referforcing the signal out of vertical position, so ence indicate corresponding parts in all the that it will drop into horizontal position, as Y 2 5 figures. shown in Fig. 2. After the signal has been Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one operated it will be necessary for a new rece form of my invention in position for use. tacle with explosive to be supplied and t e 80 Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the opersignal placed in normal condition. ating means upon an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 The electric circuit is represented in dia- 0 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 on grammatic form in Fig. 4 and comprises a an enlarged scale, and Fig. 4 is a diagramgenerator 27 and switch 28, as well as the termatic view showing electrical connections minals mentioned above. In addition to 85 for operating the device. these a shunt 26 may be taken from the My invention contemplates the placing of main line and caused to pass through a light 3 5 one of more signals between every two sta- 29 in the signal itself. The ends of the cirtions and providing electrical connections cuit may be taken to the ground or a combetween the signals and the stations in both plete metallic circuit may ofcourse be em- 0 directions, so that by the manipulation of a ployed, if desired. It' will be apparent that button or switch at the station all of the sigupon the closing of the switch 28 a current 40 nals between that station and the next one will be sent through the light 29 and the exin one direction can be set, or those between plosive 23 will be exploded to set the signal the same station and the next one in the 13. This may be accomplished upon all the 5 other direction, if desired. signals between two stations, if desired, and The signal device which I have illustrated the connections at the various stations may comprises a frame 11, adapted to be set up be made in any way, so as to provide for setat any point along the railroad and provided ting one or more of the signals, as desired. with an upward extension 12 for concealing The light described above may be, if desired, 100 a signal 13 when the latter is not set to stop provided by a storage battery for each signal a train. It is also provided with a box 14 for sufficient to produce the necessary light in the receiving the operating parts of the device. signal.

The signal is pivoted upon a rod 15 by means It will of course be understood that the deof an arm 16, and the lower end of this arm, tails illustrated in the drawings are furnished :0 5 which projects below the pivotal point, is for the purpose of showing the principle of my invention and that it is not limited thereto, being capable of variations within wide limits, as represented in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A signal system, comprising a movable signal, a fragile stop for holding the signal out of operative position, and means for causing the signal to be moved into a position indicating danger when said stop is broken. 4

2. A signal system, comprising a signal, a fragile stop therefor, means for displaying the signal when the stop is broken, and means for breaking the stop from a distance.

3. A signal system, comprising a plurality of signals between stations, electric connections from each station to all the signals between it and the next station on each side, a fragile stop for each signal, means for displaying each signal when its stop is broken, and means at each station for breaking said stops.

4. In a semaphore, the combination of a movable signal, a lever for moving it, a fragile stop for holding the lever out of operative position, and means for fracturing the stop.

5. In a semaphore, the combination of a movable signal, a lever for moving it, a fragile receptacle for holding the lever out of operative position, and electric means for fracturing the receptacle to allow the lever to operate the signal.

6. In a semaphore, the combination of a signal, means for moving it, a fragile receptacle for holding said means out of operative position, an explosive within said receptacle, and means for exploding the explosive and destroying the receptacle.

7. The combination of a signal, means for normally holding said signal in a vertical position, said means comprising a lever and a fragile stop therefor, and means for destroying said stop and permitting the signal to be displayed, said means comprising an electric circuit.

8. The combination with a box having a projection, a signal pivoted to the box and normally in position behind. said projection, a link connected with said signal, a lever connected with the link, means for normally holding the lever in such a position as to keep the signal behind said projection, and means for removing said first-mentioned means so as to allow the lever to turn about its fulcrum and cause the signal to be displayed.

9. The combination with a box having a projection, a signal pivoted to the box and normally in position behind said projection, a link connected with said signal, a lever connected with the link, means for normally holding the lever in such a position as to keep the signal behind. said projection, and means for removing said first-mentioned means so as to allow the lever to turn about its fulcrum and cause the signal to be displayed said first-named means comprising a fragile receptacle, an explosive in said receptacle, an electric circuit connected with said explosive and normally open, and a switch in said electric circuit.

10. The combination with a box having a projection, a signal pivoted to the box and normally in position behind said projection, a link connected with said signal, a lever con nected with the link, means for normally holding the lever in such a position as to keep the signal behind said projection, and means for removing said first-mentioned means so as to allow the lever to turn about its fulcrum and cause the signal to be displayed; said first-named means comprising a fragile receptacle, an explosive in said receptacle, an electric circuit connected with said explosive and normally open, a switch in said electric circuit, a shunt connected with said circuit, and an electric light on said signal and connected with said shunt.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM B. BRUCE. Witnesses:

J. W. CLARK, ERNEST FRANKLIN. 

